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New York, NY / Buenos Aires, Argentina (12/4/12) – It was officially announced last week that WBC Middleweight Champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (50-2-2, 28KO’s), who will be presented with his new belt this week at the WBC Convention in Cancun, will defend his title next against England’s undefeated interim WBA Middleweight Champion Martin Murray (25-0-1, 11KO’s) in Martinez’ home country of Argentina. In a historic move, the event was announced by the President of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner and will be held on April 27. The bout will be broadcast on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing”.

“I’m privileged and honored to take part in Argentinian history in the announcement of my homecoming fight in my homeland with President Cristina de Kirchner and I want to thank my fans for supporting me throughout my career and I promise to give them a show they will be proud of on April 27,” said Martinez.

“On April 27, the great Sergio Martinez will defend his title against a worthy challenger in front of fifty thousand adoring Argentinians. This will be a historic night for middleweight boxing and I am thrilled to be Sergio’s promoter and to be part of an event of this magnitude,” said promoter Lou DiBella.

“I am very honored to be a part of such a historic event,” said Martinez’ longtime advisor Sampson Lewkowicz. “This will be a very special night for me as this has been a dream and request of Sergio’s to be able to defend his championship in front of all of his adoring fans in Argentina, the country that loves him so much for a long time.”

Never in the history of the sport has the President of a country made the official announcement of a fight as is the case with Martinez’ upcoming bout. In addition to announcing the world championship bout, President Kirchner also revealed that the fight will be shown live on public TV Channel 7 in Argentina, allowing 40 million Argentinians to see their champion defend his title on free television.

The bout will be Martinez’ first in Argentina since February 2002, and his first since winning a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., which was shown live on HBO PPV on September 15. Martinez is, in fact, undefeated in Argentina, winning 24 of 25 bouts, with one draw later avenged, since turning pro in 1997. He will look to continue that streak against Murray on April 27.

The 30-year-old Murray, a native of the United Kingdom, is coming off a sixth-round TKO over previously undefeated Jorge Navarro on November 24. The lone blemish on Murray’s record is a split decision draw to longtime reigning WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm.

WBC US Flyweight Champion Joseph Rios is ready for the best at 112

On Friday, December 21st, at La Villita Assembly Hall in San Antonio, Texas, WBC US NBC Flyweight Champion Joseph Rios will attempt to knock off yet another undefeated prospect when he faces highly touted boxer/puncher Juan Leija from Houston, Texas.

Since injecting new blood into his camp, with the addition of trainers Rick Morones and Mike Rios Jr, the hard punching title holder has defied the odds by scoring consecutive upset victories over previously unbeaten fighters Joel Garcia and Miguel Diaz.

In his most recent outing, Joseph Rios won the coveted WBC distinction by overwhelming Diaz with relentless aggression and accurate power punches for eight action filled rounds.

The Alamo City fighter claims that his title winning effort is only the beginning.

“I feel like a brand new fighter,” claims Joseph Rios. “Since training with Rick Morones Jr, as well as my brother Mike Rios Jr, my career has been revitalized. I feel so confident every time I step in the squared circle now. I truly believe that I can beat anyone in the Flyweight division at this moment.”

If Rios is indeed successful in defending his title against prospect Juan Leija on December 21st, the rugged fight veteran wants to aggressively pursue the biggest names in the division.

“I’ve been in the fight game for a long time and I’m ready to take on the world,” insists the 30 year old pugilist. “I know I have what it takes to not only compete against the best, but to knock off the heralded fighters in the division…Brian Viloria, Hernan Marquez, Giovani Segura, Sonny Boy Jaro…everyone.”

Talented young trainer Rick Morones mirrors the sentiment of his big punching Flyweight title holder.

“Joseph Rios is amazing,” expounds fight trainer Rick Morones Jr. “He is so determined and focused to win. He has a great, confident attitude in the gym and in the ring, and I genuinely see him giving anyone in the Flyweight division a tough outing. Sometimes in boxing, the magic doesn’t happen until late in certain fighters’ careers. Joseph is one of those fighters.”

“In his mind, he is an undefeated fighter. I call him the Orlando Salido of the Flyweight division.”

The parallels to the current WBO Featherweight Champion are unmistakable.

Both Salido and Rios are achieving great success after learning on the job for several years, and both have recently won recognized titles after beating heavily favored incumbent champions.

Joseph Rios wants to prove his mettle against the best.

“A lot of critics didn’t think I could win the WBC Flyweight title at this stage in my career, but their words have been my motivation,” claims Joseph Rios. “I believe in myself and my team believes in me. I just need the big opportunities now to show everyone what I can do in boxing.”

“I’m ready…bring on the best in the Flyweight division!”

Come witness the resurrection of San Antonio, TX, Flyweight Joseph Rios when he takes on undefeated puncher Juan Leija of Houston, TX, on December 21st at La Villita Assembly Hall.

Grantland’s THE BRINK: Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin is an inside look at one of boxing’s most promising and charismatic figures. Our cameras follow Quillin, who overcame dire poverty as a child to become the undefeated #1 middleweight contender, on the most important night of his life: his first world title shot, at the Barclays Center in his adopted hometown of Brooklyn.

This is the first in director Jason Hehir’s short film series for Grantland chronicling the moment when a rising athlete/artist breaks through onto the big stage.

View this digital short at: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8706536/peter-kid-chocolate-quillin-first-title-fight

**Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin is available for interviews, as is director Jason Hehir**